Mary MacKillop Enhancement Centre

In 2011, the staff of the Mary MacKillop Enhancement Centre (MMEC) have dedicated themselves to working consistently with students with special learning needs to assist them in accessing the curriculum. We believe that all students can experience success when learning outcomes are based on realistic and achievable goals. The words of our patron, St Mary of the Cross, echo the attitude and reflect the commitment of the MMEC staff, “We must teach more by example than by word”. (1867) This year, the staff included specialist teachers — Mrs Gemma Austin, Mrs Eve McLellan, Mrs Jacinta Ryan, Mrs Carmel Dwyer, Mrs Christine Thompson, and Br Lawrence King; and Learning Support Officers: Mrs Karen Tillotson, Ms Carolyn Hamilton, Mrs Ester Gmelig, Mr Simon Lloyd, Ms Muriel West, Mrs Freda Siomos, Mrs Gabrielle Windley, Ms Paula Mitcham, Mrs Melanie Livera, and Mr Christopher Windley. This team of dedicated educators works with students who have intellectual, social, emotional, physical or severe language needs, across all year levels from Primary to Year 12. Each member of the team collaborates with staff and parents to identify and facilitate the individual learning needs of the students. Regular Program Support Group (PSG) meetings occur for students who qualify for integration funding, where issues of academic planning and pastoral care are discussed with parents. Decisions from these meetings are implemented by MMEC staff, parents and teachers, to enhance student learning and maximize effective teaching. Many other PSG meetings also occur for students who are identified with special needs. This year, the Literacy Support classes continued with four groups at Years 7, 8, and 9, and two groups at Year 10, with a total enrolment of 95 students. These students have experienced the expertise of the MMEC teaching staff in assisting them to improve their literacy skills. The Numeracy Support Program, which was initiated in 2008, continued throughout Years 7 and 8. Students who were nominated by their Maths teacher as needing assistance, and those identified through the Allwell testing, were given the opportunity to withdraw from one period of Religious Education each week to work with Br Lawrence to enhance their Maths skills. This program was delivered to 34 students. In the Primary area, Mrs Gemma Austin again worked with small groups of students in the General Language Skills classes to help improve their literacy skills. This proved extremely successful and productive. This year, new staff were introduced to our new format for writing Individual Learning Plans (I.L.P.s) through the Moodle program. This is a mandated directive from the Catholic Education Office for students who are funded under the Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Program. Workshop sessions for the new teaching staff were facilitated by the MMEC staff at the beginning of the year in the area of writing I.L.P.s. The I.L.P.s are now written for each semester and emailed to the parents prior to the PSG meeting where possible. Through the expertise of Mr Chris Windley and the knowledge of Mrs Gemma Austin, via many hours of collaboration, the MMEC Moodle site was developed and launched. This site allows all staff to access information and procedures quickly and easily, to further assist them in their teaching and pastoral care of the MMEC students. The support and cooperation of the Principal, Br Paul Rogers, Deputy Principal, Peter Riordan, Assistant Principal/Curriculum Coordinator, Stephen Young, Head of Kinnoull Sally Buick, Head of Tiverton John McAlroy, Year Level Coordinators, all teaching staff, Library and Information Technology staff, has been invaluable in encouraging and supporting the work of the MMEC staff. I wish to thank my fantastic team for their caring dedication, perseverance and professionalism as they work to enhance the lives of our students

Mrs Kathie Holmes MMEC Coordinator.

Standing: Eve McLellan, Freda Siomos, Br Lawrence King fsc, Kathie Holmes, Gemma Austin, Gabrielle Windley, Paula Mitcham, Chris Windley Seated: Carmel Dwyer, Jacinta Ryan, Karen Tillotson, Muriel West, Melanie Livera, Esther Gmelig Absent: Christine Thompson